Ochai Young Agbaji (born April 20, 2000)[2] is an American professional basketball player for the Toronto Raptors of the National Basketball Association (NBA). As a senior at the University of Kansas, Agbaji was named a consensus first-team All-American and voted the Big 12 Player of the Year in 2022. He led the Jayhawks to a national championship and was named the Final Four Most Outstanding Player (MOP).
![]() Agbaji in 2022 | |
No. 30 – Toronto Raptors | |
---|---|
Position | Shooting guard |
League | NBA |
Personal information | |
Born | Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U.S. | April 20, 2000
Listed height | 6 ft 5[1] in (1.96 m) |
Listed weight | 215 lb (98 kg) |
Career information | |
High school | Oak Park (Kansas City, Missouri) |
College | Kansas (2018–2022) |
NBA draft | 2022: 1st round, 14th overall pick |
Selected by the Cleveland Cavaliers | |
Playing career | 2022–present |
Career history | |
2022–2024 | Utah Jazz |
2022 | →Salt Lake City Stars |
2024–present | Toronto Raptors |
Career highlights and awards | |
| |
Stats at NBA.com | |
Stats at Basketball-Reference.com | |
Agbaji was drafted as the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers. However, he was traded to the Utah Jazz in September before playing a regular-season game in Cleveland. He was traded to the Toronto Raptors in 2024.
Early life
editAgbaji was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, but grew up in Kansas City, Missouri.[2] He grew up playing soccer, upon his father's encouragement, playing club soccer as well as Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) basketball from a young age. Agbaji stopped playing soccer as a sophomore at Oak Park High School in Kansas City, Missouri to focus on basketball. He grew nine inches between his freshman and junior years.[3] In his basketball career at Oak Park, Agbaji did not receive offers from any Power Five college programs until his senior season. As a senior, he averaged 27.6 points and 8.6 rebounds per game for Oak Park and was named Kansas City Star All-Metro player of the year.[4] Agbaji was considered a three-star recruit by 247Sports and Rivals.[5] On February 8, 2018, he committed to play college basketball for Kansas over offers from Texas A&M and Wisconsin.[6]
College career
editAgbaji began his freshman season at the University of Kansas as a redshirt and was a member of the scout team.[7] In early January 2019, his redshirt was lifted because Kansas needed depth after Udoka Azubuike suffered a season-ending injury and Silvio De Sousa faced eligibility issues.[8] On January 29, Agbaji made his first career start, scoring 24 points, bringing in seven rebounds, and stealing the ball twice in a loss to Texas. In his next game, he recorded his first double-double in a win over Texas Tech. Agbaji was named Big 12 Conference Newcomer of the Week for the two performances.[9] Agbaji averaged 8.5 points and 4.6 rebounds per game in 22 games, including 16 starts as a freshman.[10]
On November 5, 2019, Agbaji made his sophomore season debut, scoring 15 points in a loss to fourth-ranked Duke at the Champions Classic.[11] During the aforementioned sophomore season, Agbaji was named Honorable Mention All-Big 12.[12] As a sophomore, Agbaji averaged 10 points and 4.2 rebounds per game and finished second on the team with 46 three-pointers.[13] He averaged 14.1 points per game as a junior, shooting 42 percent from the field. On April 8, 2021, he declared for the 2021 NBA draft while maintaining his college eligibility.[14]
Agbaji made his senior season debut on November 9, 2021, recording 29 points in an 87–74 win against Michigan State at the Champions Classic.[15] On January 24, 2022, he scored a career-high 37 points in a 94–91 double overtime win over Texas Tech.[16] At the close of the season, Agbaji was voted the Big 12 Player of the Year and was named a consensus first-team All-American.[17][18] Kansas won the 2022 NCAA tournament, and he scored 12 points in the championship game and was named the tournament MOP.[17] On April 24, Agbaji declared for the 2022 NBA draft.[19]
Professional career
editUtah Jazz (2022–2024)
editAgbaji was selected with the 14th overall pick in the 2022 NBA draft by the Cleveland Cavaliers.[20][21] On July 2, 2022, Agbaji signed his rookie scale contract with the Cavaliers.[22]
On September 1, 2022, Agbaji was traded, alongside Collin Sexton, Lauri Markkanen, three first round picks, and two pick swaps, to the Utah Jazz in exchange for Donovan Mitchell.[23] Agbaji had his NBA debut on October 19, playing one minute in a 123–102 win over the Denver Nuggets.[24] On April 8, 2023, Agbaji scored a career-high 28 points in a 118–114 win over the Nuggets.[25]
Toronto Raptors (2024–present)
editOn February 8, 2024, Agbaji was traded to the Toronto Raptors alongside Kelly Olynyk in exchange for Kira Lewis Jr., Otto Porter Jr., and draft compensation.[26]
Career statistics
editGP | Games played | GS | Games started | MPG | Minutes per game |
FG% | Field goal percentage | 3P% | 3-point field goal percentage | FT% | Free throw percentage |
RPG | Rebounds per game | APG | Assists per game | SPG | Steals per game |
BPG | Blocks per game | PPG | Points per game | Bold | Career high |
NBA
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2022–23 | Utah | 59 | 22 | 20.5 | .427 | .355 | .812 | 2.1 | 1.1 | .3 | .3 | 7.9 |
2023–24 | Utah | 51 | 10 | 19.7 | .426 | .331 | .750 | 2.5 | .9 | .5 | .6 | 5.4 |
Toronto | 27 | 18 | 23.6 | .391 | .217 | .611 | 3.3 | 1.3 | .7 | .6 | 6.7 | |
Career | 137 | 50 | 20.8 | .419 | .326 | .744 | 2.5 | 1.1 | .5 | .4 | 6.7 |
College
editYear | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2018–19 | Kansas | 22 | 16 | 25.9 | .449 | .307 | .694 | 4.6 | .9 | .5 | .5 | 8.5 |
2019–20 | Kansas | 31 | 31 | 33.3 | .428 | .338 | .673 | 4.2 | 2.0 | 1.2 | .3 | 10.0 |
2020–21 | Kansas | 30 | 30 | 33.7 | .420 | .377 | .689 | 3.7 | 1.9 | 1.1 | .5 | 14.1 |
2021–22 | Kansas | 39 | 39 | 35.1 | .475 | .409 | .743 | 5.1 | 1.6 | .9 | .6 | 18.8 |
Career | 122 | 116 | 31.9 | .443 | .357 | .699 | 4.4 | 1.6 | .9 | .4 | 12.8 |
Personal life
editAgbaji's father, Olofu, moved from Nigeria to the U.S. when he was 17.[27] Agbaji's mother, Erica, and his father both played basketball at the University of Wisconsin–Milwaukee. His older sister, Orie, played volleyball for Texas.[28]
References
edit- ^ Givony, Jonathan (June 24, 2022). "Ochai Agbaji Stats, News, Bio". ESPN. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ a b Tait, Matt (December 11, 2019). "Ochai Agbaji's father, Olofu, explains his son's 'special purpose' after 95–68 Kansas win vs. Milwaukee". KUSports.com. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ Mellinger, Sam (February 21, 2019). "How and why Kansas freshman Ochai Agbaji went from overlooked recruit to NBA prospect". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Bedore, Gary; McDowell, Sam (April 11, 2018). "It's official: Oak Park senior Ochai Agbaji signs with Kansas basketball". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Skretta, Dave (February 25, 2019). "Jayhawks' Agbaji is proof that big-time talent still sneaks under recruiting radar". Fox Sports. Associated Press. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Daniels, Evan (February 8, 2018). "Ochai Agbaji commits to Kansas". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Moore, CJ (January 10, 2019). "Redshirt burned, Ochai Agbaji comes up big for Kansas". The Athletic. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Chasen, Scott (January 8, 2019). "Ochai Agbaji to burn redshirt, play Bill Self announces". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "Agbaji named Big 12 Newcomer of the Week". Kansas Jayhawks. February 4, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ Bedore, Gary (November 1, 2019). "Agbaji's rapid rise gives KU scoring threat: 'He is poised to have a bust-out year'". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 23, 2019.
- ^ "No. 3 Kansas upended by No. 4 Duke, 68–66". Kansas Jayhawks. November 5, 2019. Retrieved November 19, 2019.
- ^ "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced" (PDF). Big 12 Conference. March 8, 2020. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ Braswell, Scott (March 8, 2020). "Azubuike named Big 12 Player of the Year". KTEN. Retrieved April 4, 2020.
- ^ Gates, Riley (April 8, 2021). "Ochai Agbaji declares for 2021 NBA Draft". 247Sports.com. Retrieved May 30, 2021.
- ^ Bedore, Gary (November 10, 2021). "'He's a pro': Ochai Agbaji scores career-high 29 as KU Jayhawks beat Michigan State". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 15, 2021.
- ^ "Agbaji helps No. 5 Kansas beat Texas Tech 94–91 in 2OT". ESPN. Associated Press. January 25, 2022. Retrieved January 25, 2022.
- ^ a b Bedore, Gary (April 4, 2022). "Kansas Jayhawks' Ochai Agbaji adds NCAA Tournament MOP to All-America, Big 12 awards". The State. Retrieved April 5, 2022.
- ^ "Men's Basketball All-Big 12 Awards Announced" (Press release). Big 12 Conference. March 6, 2022. Retrieved March 6, 2022.
- ^ "Kansas guard Ochai Agbaji declares for 2022 NBA draft, says 'I'll always be a Jayhawk'". ESPN. April 24, 2022. Retrieved April 24, 2022.
- ^ "Nigerians In NBA Draft: Agbaji Picked By Cavaliers, Williams Headed To Charlotte". Channels Television. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ Simmons, Jonathan (June 24, 2022). "What do you think of the Cavs taking Ochai Agbaji at No. 14?". cleveland. Retrieved June 24, 2022.
- ^ "Cavaliers Sign 2022 Draft Picks Ochai Agbaji and Isaiah Mobley". NBA. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ Cavaliers. "Cavs Acquire Three-Time All-Star Donovan Mitchell". Cavs.com. NBA/Turner. Retrieved September 3, 2022.
- ^ "NEW-LOOK JAZZ BEAT NUGGETS 123-102 IN SEASON OPENER". NBA.com. Retrieved February 16, 2023.
- ^ "Nuggets vs Jazz, April 8, 2023". Basketball-Reference.com.
- ^ "RAPTORS ACQUIRE OLYNYK AND AGBAJI FROM JAZZ". NBA.com. February 8, 2024. Retrieved February 8, 2024.
- ^ Keegan, Tom. Tom Keegan: Ochai Agbaji, KU’s stealth recruit, fits right in, Lawrence Journal-World, June 26, 2018.
- ^ Bedore, Gary (June 26, 2018). "Thanks to new teammate, KU's Azubuike is getting home cooking: goat meat and fufu". The Kansas City Star. Retrieved November 19, 2019.